Description
Henri Brunier (of Vieux Télégraphe fame) bought this Châteauneuf du Pape estate in 1986. The 27 hectares of vineyards are located on a rocky plateau north of the village. They are planted with 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre and the average age of the vines is over 40 years old. The grapes are hand picked and are then fermented for 15-20 days in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine remains in tanks for a further year before being transferred into oak casks where it is aged for a further 8 months. It is bottle unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Notes
The Grenache-dominated 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Piedlong has a distinct saltiness, as well as terrific Grenache charm in its sweet strawberry and raspberry fruit, dried flowers and sandy/loamy soils notes. It is impeccably balanced, has no hard edges and very polished, fine tannin. I like it now, but it will keep for a decade. [91 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – October 2016, robertparker.com]
